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Summer has flown by at the Valdese Parks and Recreation Department! Swimmers have been swimming, pickleballers have been pickleballing, and hikers and bikers have taken to the trails.
We’re gearing up for the start of fall with our fall youth sports registration currently under way. We have football, cheerleading, and outdoor soccer signing up now, and, thanks to a very generous donation and the town, our Tiger football players will have some amazing looking new helmets this season. We’re also very excited to offer a Fall Homeschool P.E. option this year. Kids will be divided into two age groups for an hour of afternoon programming. For more information, please call us at 828-879-2132
Our Valdese Torpedo Swim Team members had a great season as a part of our Tarheel Swim League, which will be culminating in a championship meet on August 3 in Shelby. Because so many of our swimmers and coaches are also our lifeguards, the pool will have different hours from normal and be open only from 12pm-6pm on August 3.
We’re looking forward to another Great Waldensian Footrace on August 10. There is still time to register for the 5K, 10K, and Fun Run up until the day of the race. Race packet pickup and day of race registration starts at 7am at the Community Center, and the race starts at 8am. The Fun Run will begin at roughly 9:30am. The Community Center will remain closed the rest of the weekend following the race for everyone to enjoy the festival.
Out in the parks, we have seen tremendous numbers of visitors this summer. The McGalliard Falls parking lot is full most weekends with people enjoying the park and greenway, and it is fun to see pickup games of kickball at Children’s Park. Valdese Lakeside Park is in the process of adding a wonderful pavilion, paid for with donations and grant funding, and we’ve heard excellent reviews of the new 4.2 mile Hollipop mountain biking trail. If you haven’t been out to see Hollipop on a bike or even on foot, go check it out! We’ve also had a lot of visitors fishing and paddling from the park, and we’re really excited to see the wonderful pier and launch get so much use.
On the maintenance and improvements front, the concession stand and bowling alley will be closed the last week of August after students head back to school. Contractors will be working on refinishing the lanes and installing new synthetic pin decks. The Party Room will also be receiving new flooring that week, and we’re looking forward to hosting more parties there with easier to clean flooring. We know there are a lot of questions about the pool, and we are continuing to work with an architectural firm on the pool structure. We are looking forward to giving an update on the project at the August 5 Town Council meeting.
Please be on the lookout this month for a survey for the new Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. This is a great chance to provide feedback to the department about our programming and facilities, and we want to have input from you to help with a road map for the growth of the department. Later in the year, we’ll be announcing dates for community forums for in-person feedback.
We’re excited for what August and the Fall holds, and we look forward to having you at YOUR Valdese Parks and Recreation Department.
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